Improvement in switches for the hair



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Switches for the Hair No.125,382. PaientedA rng m'z,

PATENT QEEICE.

GEORGE H. CUTTER, OF ARLINGTON, MASSACHUSETTS.

IMPROVEMENT INSWITCHES FOR THE HAIR.

Specification forming part of Letters Patent No. 125,382, dated April 9, 1872.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, GEORGE H. CUTTER, of Arlington, in the count T of Middlesex and State of Massachusetts, have invented an Improvement in Switches for the Hair; and I do hereby declare that the following, taken in connection with the drawing which accompanies and forms part of this specification, is a description of my invention sufficient to enable those skilledin the art to practice it.

My invention relates particularly to the manufacture of that class of switches for ladies hair in which the switch is composed of silk, cotton, or other threads having a peculiar hard finish, which gives to them a close resemblance to human hair, and enables them to be freely combed (the same as hair is combed) without fraying or untwisting' the fibers. More particularly my improvement has reference to the manner of joining the threads to the band by which the switch is applied to the head. Usually this connection is made by hand, the threads being knotted, woven, or braided upon a cord, and the band then sewed on by felling. In my invention I unite the threads directly to the band, the stitches that connect the threads together being the same that unite the threads and band.

In making the switch I proceed as follows: I first open the skein of thread and lay any part of it on a sewing-machine table, spreading the threads until they lie in nearly flat position, in which condition I introduce them he- Ileath the sewing-machine presser-foot, (pref-- erably interposing between them and the work-supporting plate a piece of paper,) laying flatwise upon and across them the baud. With the machine I then stitch through the band at the center and with parallel rows at the edges, (the stitches passing through the band and threads and paper,) the union of the band and threads being then quite perfeet. I then remove the threads from the machine and tear out the paper, (if paper has been used,) and I then fold the band over, upon, or against the threads, and again place the band beneath the presser-foot, stitching through and uniting the edges of the band with the threads between them. At the opposite part of the skein I then sever the threads, and, having hackled them, if neeesnot out until the union of the band and threads is effected) a more perfect union is produced, the threads lie more smoothly and evenly together, and the band is of better form for use.

The position of the threads between the two parts of the band and their confinement there, with the close union of the two opposite edges of the band together, disposes the threads to assume a straight and parallel position in extending from the band. It is in this formation of the switch that my invention consists.

The drawing represents a switch embodying the invention and illustrating the method of its formation.

A shows the switch. B shows the position of the threads preparatory to the union of the band and the threads. 0 shows the three rows of stitches. The fourth and finishing row of stitches is seen at A. D shows the band and threads in section. a denotes the threads; I), the band; 0, the center row of stitches; d d, the outer rows; 0, the finishing row. The rows d d would show at A unless the row 6 was in precisely the same line; but it is assumed that they are in the same line, as in each case they are made as near as is practicable to the edge of the band, though in practice they will more or less vary in distance from the edge.

Besides being more perfect from this method of making the switch, it may also be remarked that switches may be much more expeditiously made by this method. Of course there may be more or even less rows of stitches used in uniting the threads to the flat band,

but I prefer the three rows 0 d d.

I claim 'As a new article of manufacture, a switch having the threads and bands connected, substantially as shown and described.

GEORGE E. CUTTER.

Witnesses FRANCIS GOULD, M. W. FROTHINGHAM. V. 

